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Throughout the Edgar Cayce readings, fear is presented as far more than an unpleasant emotion. It is described as one of the greatest obstacles to spiritual growth and one of the most destructive influences in human life. Cayce consistently teaches that fear affects not only the mind but also the body, the emotions, the will, and the soul's ability to fulfill its divine purpose. Rather than viewing fear as merely a psychological condition, he sees it as a spiritual force that separates the individual from the awareness of God's presence and from the full expression of the soul.
One of Cayce's clearest statements appears in Reading 5459-3, where he says, "Fear is the root of most of the ills of mankind." This remarkable observation suggests that many of humanity's difficulties originate not in external circumstances but in the fearful attitudes we develop toward life. Fear appears in countless forms. It may be fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of sickness, fear of financial loss, fear of death, fear of making mistakes, or simply fear of what others may think. Even spiritual fear—the anxiety that God has abandoned us or that we are somehow unworthy of His love—belongs to the same family. According to Cayce, fear magnifies suffering because it shifts our attention away from faith and fixes it upon uncertainty and limitation.
Yet the readings never leave fear without offering a remedy. Cayce immediately points to the principle found in the First Epistle of John: "Perfect love casteth out fear." He explains that fear is overcome by filling the mental and spiritual life with love, faith, and understanding. The solution is not to deny fear, suppress it, or convince ourselves that nothing bad can happen. Instead, the mind is gradually transformed by something stronger than fear itself. Love and faith replace anxiety because the human heart cannot remain fully occupied with both at the same time. As our awareness of God's love grows, fear naturally loses its hold upon us.
One of Cayce's deepest insights appears in Reading 1210-1, where he declares that "fear opposes will," adding that "fear is only of the moment while will is of eternity." This profound statement reveals an important distinction between the temporary emotions and the eternal nature of the soul. Fear belongs to passing circumstances. It is produced by immediate situations, uncertain futures, and changing conditions. The will, however, belongs to the soul itself. It is rooted in the Creative Spirit and therefore possesses an enduring strength that temporary emotions cannot destroy. Fear may dominate the surface of our experience, but it cannot erase the deeper reality of the soul's purpose.
Cayce further explains that fear takes hold of the emotions, while the will resides much deeper within our being. This helps explain why fear often feels overwhelming. Our emotions react quickly to danger, uncertainty, and disappointment, while the voice of the soul is quieter and more enduring. An appropriate image is that of the ocean. Storms may violently disturb the surface, but the deep waters remain calm. In the same way, fear agitates the emotional surface of life, while the soul itself remains anchored in something eternal. Spiritual growth gradually teaches us to live from these deeper waters rather than from the changing waves of emotion.
Another striking statement appears in Reading 101-1, where Cayce says that "fear is the greatest destructive force to man's intelligence." Modern neuroscience has arrived at a remarkably similar conclusion. When people experience fear, the brain naturally shifts into survival mode. Higher reasoning becomes less effective, judgment narrows, creativity diminishes, and clear thinking becomes more difficult. Long before these discoveries, Cayce recognized that fear clouds the mind and prevents people from seeing truth clearly. Intelligence is not destroyed because knowledge disappears, but because fear prevents wisdom from functioning properly.
The readings also explain why fear increases in the first place. According to Cayce, doubt, uncertainty, and fear arise whenever the human will becomes combative with the Creative Energy. In other words, fear grows when we insist on controlling life according to our limited understanding rather than cooperating with God's larger purpose. This does not mean that difficulties disappear when we trust God. Instead, our relationship to those difficulties changes. Rather than constantly asking, "Why is this happening to me?" we begin asking, "How can I serve God's purpose through this experience?" This simple shift from self-centered anxiety to purposeful service weakens the power that fear holds over the mind.
Reading 2056-2 contains one of Cayce's most memorable expressions: "Fear is the beginning of all undoing." Fear rarely destroys life suddenly. Instead, it slowly erodes confidence, weakens faith, damages relationships, undermines health, and gradually steals peace of mind. Left unchecked, fear convinces individuals to stop trusting, stop growing, stop serving, and ultimately stop expressing the qualities of the soul. Cayce therefore treats fear not as a harmless emotion but as the beginning of spiritual decline whenever it becomes the controlling influence in one's life.
Fear also has the tendency to turn the mind inward upon itself. Instead of asking how we may help others, fear continually asks what might happen to us. It fills the mind with questions such as, "What if I fail? What if I lose everything? What if others reject me?" The focus becomes self-preservation rather than service. Throughout the readings, Cayce repeatedly redirects attention away from excessive concern for self and toward loving service. Service naturally shifts consciousness from fear toward love because it moves the center of attention from protecting oneself to blessing others. In this way, serving others becomes one of the most practical methods for overcoming fear.
The same principle appears in Reading 1472-13, where Cayce acknowledges that the world itself often seems ruled by fear. Yet he insists that each individual can become a source of light within that darkness. Peace, he says, cannot first be established in governments, societies, or nations. It must first take root within the heart and mind of each individual. Only then can it spread naturally into families, communities, and eventually the wider world. True peace begins as an inner spiritual reality before it becomes an outward social reality.
Cayce also observes in Reading 2560-1 that when individuals are certain they are walking the right path, they no longer fear. This certainty does not come from knowing exactly what the future will bring. Rather, it comes from knowing that one's life is aligned with truth. A person may still experience hardship, loss, or uncertainty, yet possess an inward confidence because the conscience rests in the awareness that he or she is following the highest known ideal. This inner assurance becomes stronger than outward circumstances.
Perhaps the most beautiful summary of Cayce's teaching on fear is found in his simple counsel: "Keep thine face toward the light, and the shadows will not bring fright." Fear is like a shadow. It has no independent substance of its own but exists only where something blocks the light. The more we direct our attention toward God, truth, love, faith, and service, the less power fear possesses over us. The shadows may still remain, but they no longer determine the direction of our lives. Our attention remains fixed upon the Light rather than upon the darkness.
From a practical perspective, Cayce encourages us to examine fear whenever it arises. Instead of allowing fear to dominate our thinking, we can ask ourselves whether this reaction belongs merely to the emotions or whether it reflects the deeper wisdom of the soul. We may then choose the response that expresses love rather than anxiety, faith rather than doubt, and service rather than self-protection. Each small decision gradually strengthens the soul's will over the temporary emotions. Courage, therefore, is not the absence of fear but the willingness to allow the eternal will of the soul, united with God's purpose, to direct our actions even when fear is present.
Taken together, these readings present fear as the great divider between the soul and its fullest expression. Fear clouds intelligence, agitates the emotions, weakens confidence, and turns attention inward. Yet Cayce repeatedly reminds us that fear is never the deepest reality within us. The will of the soul, rooted in the Creative Spirit, is eternal, while fear belongs only to passing circumstances. As we cultivate love, faith, understanding, prayer, and selfless service, fear gradually loses its authority. The soul becomes increasingly free to express its true nature, and life itself becomes an ever-clearer reflection of the divine presence working through us.
EDGAR CAYCE READINGS ON FEAR
EDGAR CAYCE READING 5459-3
(Q) How can I overcome the fears that beset me, especially about myself and my wife?
(A) Fear is the root of most of the ills of mankind, whether of self, or of what others think of self, or what self will appear to others. To overcome fear is to fill the mental, spiritual being, with that which wholly casts out fear; that is, as the love that is manifest in the world through Him who gave Himself as a ransom for many. Such love, such faith, such understanding, casts out fear. Be ye not fearful; for that thou sowest, that thou must reap. Be more mindful of that sown.
EDGAR CAYCE READING 101-1
As is seen, much has been gained through application of self's will, when the WILL made one with the Creative Energy's purpose in the earth's plane. When combative WITH that, often comes, has come, will come, IS that which brings doubt, fear, uncertainty, in the experience of the entity. Fear is the greatest destructive force to man's intelligence.
In the application, and how:
Apply self in that direction in which the most aid to the fellow man, in applying will, in applying knowledge, in applying understanding of Creative Energy's purpose with man, to make man ONE with and equal to that Creative Energy, will bring to self the satisfaction of the experience well spent, and when these are added no uncertainty may come - as to whether power, place, position, wealth, or self - or self will NOT suffer.
EDGAR CAYCE READING 1210-1
Before this, then, we find an experience that will make for an activity throughout the sojourn of the entity in the earth in the present.
For the entity lived during those days when there were the turmoils in that period known as the American Revolution.
The entity then was in the capacity of one that looked after the health as related to cleanliness about the encampments, one McQuade or Quaer [?] (Herman), in and about that land now known as Jersey, York, the eastern portions of Pennsylvania, those portions about the Brandywine where the entity acted not only in the capacities for the helpfulness to those in command but also in encouraging those for a purposefulness that was for freedom of body, freedom of speech, freedom from those influences that made for oppressive forces.
Hence in the experience of the entity in the present there has ever been the urge - which has been as a key to the whole of the entity's experience - to remain free from any ism, cism, sect or influence that makes for BINDING the entity in a direction of activity to FREE SOULS from fear!! For fear is - as it ever has been - that influence that opposes will, and yet fear is only of the moment while will is of eternity. Hence fear takes hold upon the emotions, while will is deeper-seated into the soul, into the warp and woof of the very being of an ENTITY in its entirety; finding expression to be sure in the lowest of the emotions, yet is prompted by the creative force itself.
Hold fast to that as thou didst experience as a development in those experiences where not only physical aid, not only economic independence in relationships to experiences was brought, but the activities were such that made for FREEDOM - FREEDOM - of mind, of soul, to seek, to know, to experience its relationships to its Creator, its mate, its part of itself. For the Creative Forces are more even than companionship; for the heritage of each soul is to know itself to be itself yet one with that Creative Force.
EDGAR CAYCE READING 137-120
[137]: Now you will have before you the body of [137], who is located in this room. Also the associations and environments of the body. If it is fit, the Forces - whom we know are perfect in all their givings - will answer the prayers of this body, in its desire of understanding and of becoming in understanding the oneness with the One, and his desire of doing his part rationally and normally in the development of the teachings being undertaken by him and his associates. May his prayers, if seen fit, be answered, and will questions please be answered.
EC: Yes, we have the body, the enquiring mind, [137]. This we have had before, and many come and seek to give counsel to the body at this time. In seeking knowledge, my son, and the oneness of the purpose of the sojourn in the earth's sphere during this experience, take much counsel in that thou taught in thine experience with thy brother, who gives thee oneness of the forces as may be made manifest in the material plane. And as the application of the various experiences of self in this plane come to the better understanding through application, the oneness of thine own experience will be made more and more clear to self in the ways in which the associates, the daily contacts, are drawn to self in that as is shed abroad through that self is able to accomplish through the contact OF the oneness of forces as are made manifest in this material plane. Not all in moneys, houses, stocks or bonds, but each in their place, their time, and in their way serve to fill the purpose of man's understanding of that one truth that was so often given by self in that OTHER period: that all forces in the material plane are manifestations of the unseen plane, or the evolutions of life are as the evolutions of the spiritual life. And even as the sound of many waters, or of mighty winds that bring into the various experiences of man of the unseen channels that have effect in the daily life, these are but manifestations of the One Spirit. And self, kept in that way that brings to thine understanding the varied conditions as are presented, only aids self in the greater development in each and every phase of understanding. And as the body physical, the bodily efforts in the mental man, become the pictures of those elements that make up the inner man, so will the various manifestations enable the self to expand in the various fields, as not only that of a man well rounded in the material side, but able, capable, and with an understanding heart and purpose teach, manifest, those very powers, by the laying on of hands or by the speaking of the word, even as thou hast accomplished in the present understanding.
These, as thou knowest, have been given as ensamples of that as may be accomplished in keeping self in at-onement with the forces as are manifest in this plane, whether of the material, of the mental, of the spiritual; they are one, even as "I and thy Father are one." In Him and through His understanding comes the satisfaction of the CONTENTED life. Not satisfied ever, other than in well-doing - but in the states of development let each contend as they may, but ever let thy watchword be, "Others do as they may, but for me and mine house, WE will serve" - and in service find even that as was given, "Though He was led as the lamb, yet opened He not his mouth" - for He took upon himself the sins, or obligations, of many, that there might be the better understanding, the better knowledge of that oneness as is manifest in that thou walkest in that way. Ready for questions.
(Q) Was this father Joseph speaking?
(A) I, even I, Joseph, as I last - as thou knowest in thine self - leaned upon thine arm, as I commended to thee, Jude, that thou wouldst not lightly consider those deeds as were being done even in thine own house. Even in the shadow of thine own domicile hast thou seen and known, my son, the various understandings that come with the full knowledge of WEAKNESS in self alone, but mighty strength in Him that makes the path straight for those that would trust in the Oneness of all love - law - understanding. Yes, I - even I, Joseph, again commend unto you that as thou hast promised in self. Keep - keep - Oh keep aright, in the ways that bring the greater love.
(Q) In the prophesy made before this question, was it referred to that there is a possibility that by keeping in the right way so-called miracles can and will be performed -
(A) By self, even as awakening in the minds and hearts of each individual that thou associates with, there comes the knowledge of, that THIS man has gotten the GLORY of the Father and it shines in the day, and in every act of the body and mind. And as fear is put aside there comes the full knowledge of that as was said of old, "The cattle and the gold are mine, and I WILL recompense, in that thou mayest come unto me and serve," saith the Lord of Hosts; for even HE approachest near to thine own couch, and has hallowed it in thine meditations, and brought to thee that as is in thine hand, the abilities of hosts to give the better understanding of even David as he cried unto the Lord in his tribulations, or his gladness, when he said, "Though I walk through the valley, His rod, His staff, they comfort me. My cup runneth over. SURELY goodness and mercy shall FOLLOW ME, EVEN as I show goodness and mercy to these, my brethren. And who is my brother? Who is my father, my mother? He that doeth the will of Him that gave me the OPPORTUNITY to make manifest that He commits unto my keeping, saith the Lord of hosts." Keep, O keep, my son, that as is committed, as thou hast promised in self, and He is faithful to those to whom He may be faithful, through their faith and faithfulness.
EDGAR CAYCE READING 1472-13
(Q) Considering the recent developments for my work in the lecture field, please inform and instruct me as to its purpose and significance; where it is leading; if I should continue to promote it, and if so how I may expand its scope to express and serve the more?
(A) This is not merely a channel, but a channel of great opportunity for the entity to be as an emissary, a teacher, an instructor to those in many walks of life, in many phases of consciousness, in many activities in which those very principles, those very tenets that have been indicated are so much needed. As is understood by the entity, the harvest indeed is ready, but the laborers are few. By all means USE this opportunity as a manner, as a means to disseminate those impelling intimations, those impelling influences, - which the entity has the ability to do in such a manner as to be most efficacious in the experiences of individuals.
As to where it leads, - this depends much upon the manner in which the entity presents those truths that are subtly expressed; subtle, yet from which there may be positively drawn truths and lessons for the individuals to meet their own problems.
For, the answer must ever be personal, individual; and so given in the expressions by the entity that individuals may in their own lives make a practical application of those tenets, those truths, - that the day of the Lord IS at hand, and that even in the hours or periods when fear is as a ruling force, there may be brought the white light of health, help and happiness into the minds of all.
Thus, - here a little, there a little, line upon line, precept upon precept, the leaven may leaven the whole lump.
This is the purpose, - this is the manner, this is the way that the entity may use these opportunities; as an emissary of the Prince of Peace.
For, that sought by all is peace; not as the world gives peace, but this is an activity that must FIRST find expression and root in the heart and mind of each individual, before there can come peace in relationships to others.
EDGAR CAYCE READING 2056-2
(Q) Give the body any other advice that would be in keeping for the best development for this body.
(A) Keep thine face toward the light, and the shadows will not bring fright - for fear is the beginning of all undoing. Keep the heart singing, and the Lord will raise thee up to MAGNIFY His promises to men through service to thine fellow man, for he that lends to the Lord lays up a store in that realm where thieves do not break through nor steal. Keep thine ways open, above censure, and NEVER censure self.
EDGAR CAYCE READING 2560-1
Fear is that element in the character and in the experience of individuals which brings about more of trouble than any other influence in the experience of an entity. For, when ye are sure of the right path and follow it, ye do not fear. Hence when the entity was sure, it went about or became the channel rather to magnify the truth in the land, with a purpose that was not prompted by egotism nor selfishness.
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